Arun Jaitley, the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has written to MM Pallam Raju, the Union human resource development minister, asking for the decision to introduce a four-year graduation course in Delhi University to be deferred till further consultations.

"Adequate
and extensive discussion within the university has not been held while deciding to switch over to a four-year course," Jaitley wrote.

"Even with regard to the content of the curriculum, the subject has not been adequately discussed in the various faculties and departments," he added.

He added that the impact of a three-year course becoming a four-year course had not been factored in with an eye on socio-economic realities.

"It has not been discussed why the switch over to the four-year course is for one university and does not apply to other universities," Jaitley said.

The BJP leader said he was constrained to make these observations though it was the discretion of the academic community to decide the duration of the course.

The move by DU authorities to introduce the programme has sparked widespread protests by both students and teachers.